Knitting method and machine



Dec. 5, 1944.

H. E. HOUSEMAN KNITTING METHOD AND MACHINE Filed March 28, 1959 7Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 5, 1944. H. E. HoUsEMAN KNITTING METHOD AND MACHINE'7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 28, 1939 h? mb NQ MQ WMe/vra@ V y YF.

Dec. 5, 1944.

KNITTING METHOD AND MACHINE Filed March 2s, 1939 Tsheets-sheet 5 A7770/Vf VJ.

H. E. HoUsEMAN 2,364,217l

Dec. 5, 1944. H. E. HoUsx-:MAN

KNITTING METHOD AND MACHINE Filed March 28,v 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec5, 1944 H. E. HoUsEMAN KN-ITTING METHOD AND MACHINE Filed March 28, 19597 Sheets-Sheet 5 www w .Mmmm w a #y w E M /QMJ www /0.

Dec. 5, 1944. H. E. Housr-:MAN

l KNITTING METHOD AND MACHINE Filed March 28, 19159 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 tZZ www 292 Y Dec. 5, 1944. I H. E. HOUSEMAN 2,364,217

KNITTING METHOD AND MACHINE Filed March 2 8, 1939 r7 Sheets-Sheet '7`PatentedDec. 5, 1944 KNITTING METHOD AND MACHINE Harold E.Houseman,.Laconia,'N. H., assgnor to Scott and Williams, Incorporated,Laconia, N. H., a corporation ofMassachusetts Application March 28,1939, Serial No. 264,533

1.7y claims.

This invention relates t a knitting method and machine, and specificallyto a method and machine for the automatic production of a ribtop-continuously with the leg of a stocking in which split knittingoccurs, either in the foot alone or both in the foot and above the heelto form a so-called high splice.

`The machine of the present invention may be regarded as an improvementon the machine of Scott Patent 1,641,101, dated August 30, 1927, variousfeatures of which it embodies. In the said Scott patent, there isautomatically produced a rib top continuously with the other portions ofthe stocking, thus avoiding the necessity for separately forming a ribtop and transferring it to the needles of a machine for the productionof a leg. The production of split Work on such a machine entails variousproblems which are solved by the present invention.

One of the objects of the'invention is the production of a split footstocking in which the leg is knit two-feed so that at the beginning ofsplit knitting above the heel no yarn or feed must be introduced.Speciiically, it is the object to provide such a stocking in which thereis also provided a rib top knit automatically and continuously with suchleg.

It is known to produce a stocking with an automatically formed top on atwo-feed machine in which the leg is knit single feed from main yarn atthe sole feed and in which split work is produced about the heel withmain yarn in the instep knit from the instep feed. In such a stocking,the heel is knit single feed, while the main yarn is under takeupcontrol and` the foot is then made by split knitting in the samefashionas that 'occurring in the formation of the split work above theheel. In such a machine, however. there is necessarily a changeover atthe beginning of the split work. The result of this is that there isloose stitching at the point of introduction of the second feed andspecial care must be taken to prevent the occurrence of a weakened Zone.There is also a radical change of the knitting at this point and it isdifficult toavoid the appearance of a line of demarcation appearingthrough the instep at the top of the high splice. In accordance with thepresent invention, these objections vare overcome and with the twofeedknitting through the leg there is not only increased rapidity ofproduction, but the use of two yarns avoids to a substantial extent anyappearance of rings due to variation in weight of one of the yarns used.

Another object of the invention is the provision of stitch camcontrolling means for securing proper adjustments and balance ofstitches for the production of a satisfactory product.

Still another object of the invention isthe provision of sinker camcontrolling means at the instep feed for securing proper control ofstitch formation during splitknitting.

The above and other objects, particularly relating to details ofconstruction and operation, will become, apparent from the followingdescription, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical section through the needle cylinderandv associated parts of the machine, illustrating particularly theassociation of the rib needle dial with the needle cylinder;

Figure 2 is a'diagrammatic illustration of one form of stocking whichthe improved machine is intended to produce;

Figure 3 is an inside development of the needle cams carried throughsomewhat more than 360 to afford clearer illustration of therelationships ofcertain cams and associated means;

'Figure 4' is a fragmentary view illustrating the lower butt ends ofneedles and showing the three lengths of butts which are used;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the four types of sinkersused inthe machine;

Figure 6 is a perspective View showing the various cams associatedwithvthe auxiliary feed of the machine and their operating elements;

Figure '7 is a vertical section taken through certainof the operatingparts of the auxiliary feed cams;

Figure 8 is a plan view illustrating particu` larly the needle camoperating elements, as well as means for controlling movements of.asinker retracting cam associated with the auxiliary feed:

Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertical section showing particularly certainstitch controlling elements and taken cn the plane indicated at 9--9in'Figure 8; Figure 10 is an elevation of the parts illustrated inFigure 9;.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in section, v.showing themeans for controlling a sliding cam, shown particularly in Figures 9 andl0:

Figure 12 is a vertical section illustrating certain means forcontrolling adjustable cams located at the mainfeed of the machine;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary elevation of the elements of Figure 12 andassociated parts;

Figure 14 is a fragmentary view showing details of an adjustment meansillustrated in Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating particularlythe means for controlling the action of a yarn feeding finger at theauxiliary feed;

Figures 16 and 17 are vertical sections through the auxiliary yarnfeeding finger and its cooperating elements, showing it in inactive andactive positions, respectively;

Figure 18 is a plan view of the sinker cam cap and associated elementsshowing particularly the mounting of a sinker retracting cam associatedwith the auxiliary feed;

Figure 19 is a. Vertical section taken on the plane indicated at I8-I 9of Figure 18;

Figure 20 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the various types ofneedles and sinkers in the machine; and

Figure 21 is a diagram illustrating the positions of various cams andother elements of the machine during the knitting of a stocking.

Referring first to Figure 2, the stocking illustrated therein, which isa typical product of the improved machine, comprises a setting-up course2 following the formation of which there are formed a number ofwelt-forming courses providing, as described in said Scott Patent1,641,101, a turned plain knit welt 4. Following the production ofthewelt 4, there is formed the rib top 6, which is, in turn, followed by aseries of ribbed loose courses indicated at 8. Following the formationof these loose courses, plain fabric is knit to form the extended topI0, using the yarn which was knit to form the rib top. Then leg I2 isknit with change of yarn, preferably using two feeds so that two coursesare produced for each revolution of the needle cylinder.

Such two-feed knitting continues until the high splice is reached,whereupon split knitting occurs with the formation of the high splice I4and the upper instep portion I6. Reciprocation of the needle cylindertakes place at this time. Following completion of the high splice a yarnchange may take place and formation of the heel proceeds, the heelhaving the conventional narrowed and widened portions I8 and 20,respectively.

Split knitting is then resumed to form the foot 22 and instep portion24, At the end of the foot there are formed by rotary knitting aplurality of advance toe courses, indicated at 26, followed by areciprocatory knit toe having the narrowed and widened portions 28 and30, respectively, the stocking being then finished with the formation byrotary knitting of the loopers rounds 32. The actual steps in theformation of the stocking will be described in greater detail hereafter.

Referring now to Figure l, there are illustrated therein certain of thebasic parts of the machine which are substantially similar to the partsmore fully illustrated in Scott Patent 1,641,101 referred to above. Theneedle cylinder 34 is preferably of an elongated type having'slots inwhich slide not only the needles 36, but upper jacks 38 and lower jacks40, the latter being provided with removable butts 42 adapted to beoperated by pattern mechanism, if desired, to produce patterning in thestocking in accordance with wellknown practice. Since such patterningdoes not form any part of the present invention, it need not bedescribed in detail. It may take various forms, such, for example, asresult from floating, reverse plating, and formation of various types ofstitches, etc. The jacks are also arranged to control alternate needlesin the fashion necessary to effect the formation of the rib top asdescribed in said Scott patent.

The sinker dial of the machine is illustrated at 44 and carries in slotstherein in the conventional fashion web holders or sinkers, indicatedgenerally at 46, which are of the various types illustrated in Figure 5and more fully described hereafter. A sinker cam cap 46 is provided overthe sinker dial and carries substantially conventional sinker actuatingcams (as described in said Scott patent), except for a retracting camand other cams associated with an auxiliary feed referred to hereafter.During reciprocatory knitting, this sinker cam cap has slightoscillating movements of the usual type. The various sinkers are urgedinwardly by a spring band indicated at 50.

Above the needle cylinder there is located the rib needle dial 52, whichcarries the two-part rib needles 54, 56 of the types specificallydisclosed in said Scott patent. The rib needle dial is driven throughthe usual bevel gearing 58 and vertical shaft 60 in synchronism with theneedle cylinder.

The needle cylinder is movable relatively to the needle dial asdescribed in said Scott patent. Additionally, this means is used toadjust the position of the needle cylinder for the required length ofstitch at the main feed by providing for fine adjustment of thecam-following screws of the Scott arrangement.

The present machine differs from the machine of said Scott patent byreason of the provision for split foot knitting through the high spliceand foot of the stocking. The nature of the special elements of thismachine may be best understood by referring to Figure 3, which shows indeveloped form the needle actuating cams.

At the main feed point of the machine, there are located the top centercam 62 and lower center cam 64, flanked by the forward and reversestitch cams 66 and 68, respectively. Below stitch cam 68 is located thecam l0, which checks the needles against overrun, while below reversestitch cam 68 there is located a cam 14, adapted to check overrun of theneedles depressed by the reverse stitch cam 68. Beyond the cam l0 in thedirection of forward movement of the needles is the needles raising cam12. During reverse knit/- ting, an extension of the cam '14 provides forneedle raising.

Cams 16 and 18 are arranged to complete the lowering of the needleswhich are picked downward by the lowering picker 82, which is oiconventional type. The cam 8U levels the needles properly for engagementwith this picker.

Of the cams so far described, all are xed with the exception of cams 66and 10. which are axially movable in a fashion hereafter described.

The usual raising pickers 84 and 86 are located above the stitch cams 56and 68 in their usual positions.

At 88 there is located a radially movable cam which corresponds to thecam illustrated at 4 in Figure 3 of the Scott patent. Fixed cam 98corresponds in its functions to cam 25 of the same figure of the Scottpatent.

The cams associated with the auxiliary or instep feed comprise the topcenter cam S2, forward and reverse stitch cams 84 and 96, reverse andforward deilecting cams 98 and 100, forward and-reverseraising cams |02and |04, .and forward and reverse lower needle arresting cams |06 and|08, respectively. Of these cams, top center cam 92 and raising cams |02and |04 are radially movable. The other cams 94,' 96, 88,

. |00, |06 and |08 are both radially movable and axially adjustable, aswill be hereafter made clear.

Cam is active during split knitting to elevate long butt instep needlesabove themain knitting cams when they travel in a reverse or clockwisedirection. During rib knitting, it performs the same function as cam 8illustrated in Figure 3 of the Scott patent. This cani is radiallymovable to three positions, as will be hereafter described.

Cam ||2 is radially movable and is the conventional long butt switchcam. It not only serves to elevate the long butt needles at thebeginning of heel and toe knitting, but also deflects them above themain feed knitting cams as they travel in a counter-clockwise directonduring split knitting. The specilc actions of this cam will be describedin detail hereafter.

Cam ||4 is radially movable and is effective to lower needles both asthe machine comes out of toe knitting and also as it goes into rotaryknitting at the ring toe.

The needles carried by the cylinder are of conventional type, dividedinto the usual sole and instep series, of which the instep series areprovided with long butts and of which the sole series are provided withshort butts with the exception of suture needles located at the ends ofthe sole series and provided with intermediate butts. These needles areindicated at H6. lll and |20 of Figure 4 and are disposed in thecylindor as indicated in the diagram of Figure 20. While such neednot bethe case, it is usual to have the sole needles occupy half the cylinderand the instep needles the other half. One or more of the suture needlesmay be provided at each end of the short butt series.

The sinkers associated with the needles are of four types, indicated inFigure at |22, |22. |26 and |28. So far as the web holding portions ofthese sinkers are concerned. they are of two types. which alternate intheir location inthe sinker dial. The sinlzers |22 and |24 mightbecalledplain ones, while the sinkers |26 and |20 are serrated, asindicated. for the purpose of enraging and imparting special tension tothe'fabric. These sinkers perform in connection with the rib knittingthe identical funct'ons of the similar sinkers described in said Scottpatent, and they need not, therefore, be described in detail. In thepresent case. there are two types of plain sinkers |22 and |24 providedwith long and short butts, respectively, and two types of serratedsinkers |26 and |28, provded with long and short butts, respectively.The long butt sinkers are associated with the instep needles. while theshort butt sinkers are associated with the sole needles. The dispositionof these sinkers with respect to the needles is illustrated in thediagram of Figure it being understood that the sinkers move between theneedles in the usual fashion. It will be noted that long butt sinkersare associated with the suture needles.

The dial needles need not be described' specially beyond theirindication at 54 of Figure 1, since they correspond to, and function thesame as, the dial needles in said Scott patent.

There may now be described the various controlling elements for theneedle cams. Referring Til cam .92.

to Figures 6 and 8, it will be noted that the cam |02 is carried by therip-turned end |30 of a radially movable slide |32, which is held on theupper bed plate |3| by a cover |33, which has i a milled slot adapted toreceive for sliding movements the slide |32. A spring |34 urges theslide inwardly toward the needle cylinder. It is caused to moveoutwardly by engagement, with a stop screw |36 carried by the slide'l ofa lever |38, pivoted on the plate |3| and having a lower arm |42link-connected to a lever |44, adapted, to be controlled by suitablecams on the main cam drum 246 of the machine. f See Figures l2 and 15.)

A yoke |46 is provided with a milled slot and is arranged to embrace theup-turned end |30 of the slide |32 so as to be movable upwardly anddownwardly with respect thereto. It is held in proper relationship withthe up-turned end |30 by being secured to a bridging portion of the cam|06. The yoke |46 has an upright extension |50 which carries cams 94 and98. The yoke |46.is urged upwardly by a spring, which is not shown, butcorresponds to the spring |12 illustrated in Figure 7, cooperating witha corresponding yoke |68. The yoke is held downwardly in adjustedposition by means of a. nger |48, to which reference will be madehereafter. By reason of the mounting of the yoke and the slide. it willbe evident that the cam |02 has only radial movements, while the cams|06, 94 and 98 partake of the radial movements of cam |02, but areindependently vertically adjusted. The cams on the other side of thecenter, of the auxiliary feed group are similarly mounted. There isprovided a slide |54 having an up-turned end |52 and arranged to slideon the upper bed plate under the guidance of a cover member |56. Aspring |58 urges the slide |54 inwardly and outward movements areimparted thereto at proper times by means of a lever |62, which abuts astop screw |60 adjustable in the slide |54 and is actuated through anarm |64. link-connected to a lever |66 acted upon by suitable cams onthe main cam drum. On the up-turned end |52 of the slide |54 is the yoke|68, urged upwardly by spring |12 and carrying the cam |08 below the cam|04, which is secured to the end |52 of the slide. The yoke |68 is heldon end |52 by cam |08 and hasan upward extension |10 for supporting thecams 96 and |00, Thus this second group of cams at the auxiliary feedpoint is mounted in a fashion similar to the group on the other side,all of the cams having common radial movements with slide |54, while thecams |08, 96 and |00 are vertically adjustable. A nger |14 similar tolnger |48 limits upward movement of the yoke |68 under the action of itsspring |12.

The center'carn 92 of the auxiliary group is carried by a lever |18,which is pivoted at |16 on the cover plate 56. This lever is providedwith an abutment screw |82 adapted to engage a stop pin |84 carried bythe plate |56 under the action of a spring |86 to limit inward movementof the` An adjustable abutment screw is carried by the lever |18 so asto be engageable by the yoke |68 when the slide |54 is moved to itsoutermost position. When that occurs, the center cam 02 will bewithdrawn from proximity to the needle cylinder so as tomiss engagementwith needle butts.

The fingers |48 and |14 which limit upward movements of the yokes |46and |68 are carried, respectively, by arms |88 and |90, which formportions of bell cranks pivoted at I 9| in a bracket attached to theupper bed plate |3|. The depending arm of the iirst bell crank which hasthe horizontal arm |88 is indicated at |92 (Figures 9, 10 and l1) and isprovided with adjustable abutment screws |94, |96 and |98, respectively,adapted to be engaged by a cam 200, which is provided with slotsembracing studs 202 at the periphery of the lower bed plate 204, thearrangement being such that the cam 200 has a substantial arc ofmovement about the edge of the bed plate. The cam 200 is provided with apin 206 embraced by a bifurcated arm of a bell crank 208, which isconnected by a link 2| 0 to the upper end of a lever 2|| adapted to beacted upon by suitable cams on the main cam drum. The screws |94, |96and |98 may be differentially projected so as to secure variousadjustments of position of the yoke |46, depending upon the position ofthe cam 200. vided with a lateral extension 2|2 overlapping thedepending arm 2|6 of the second bell crank |90 and adapted to be engagedby an adjustable screw 2|4 carried by the latter arm. This screw ispreferably provided with a grooved head engageable by a spring presseddetent 2|8, so that it may be forcibly adjusted, but will be definitelyheld in adjusted position until substantial force is exerted to turn itagaint the holding action of the detent. As will be evident, hereafter,the two yokes |46 and |68 will, in general, partake of the sameadjustments for different conditions, but for stitch balancing purposes,must be adjusted with respect to each other. The arrangement justdescribed provides for such condition.

The cam ||0 must occupy three different positions in the operation ofthe machine, and is hence carried by a slide 220 guided in a suitablesupporting arrangement indicated at 222 supported by the upper bedplate. The slide 220 is provided with an abutment screw 224, adapted tobe engaged by a lever 226, which is link connected to a lever 228adapted to be operated upon by suitable cams on the main cam drum.

The cams 66 and 10 at the main feed must be vertically adjustable andare hence controlled by the mechanism illustrated particularly inFigures 12, 13 and 14. The two cams are secured to a slide 230, which ismounted in a vertical slot in the cam ring 232 by means of a bridgingpiece 234. This is connected by a link 236 extending through an openingin the upper bed plate to a lever 238 pivoted at 240 to the lower bedplate and having its outer end urged downwardly by a spring 242 to bringa guided slide member 244 into engagement with suitable cams 248 on themain cam drum 246. The pivot pin between link 236 and lever 238 isprovided with a rounded head 231 engageable by a hardened plate 252 onthe end of a lever 250 which is pivoted at 254, to a portion of theframe, and has a depending armin which is threaded an abutment screw 256engaging a fixed portion of the machine frame. Like the adjustable screw2|4 previously referred to, the screw 256 is provided with a groovedhead engageable by a detent 258 to prevent accidental displacement ofthe screw from its adjusted position. The screw 256 affords a neadjustment for the plate 252, which limits the upward movement of thecams 66 and 10 under the action of the `springs 242. It is theupperlimited position which is critical and which must be finelyadjusted, as will be evident hereafter.

The arm |92 is pro- Referring now to Figures 15, 16 and 17, there isillustrated therein the latch ring 260, which is conventionally arrangedand associated with the main yarn feeding fingers 262, which are undercontrol of conventional yarn changing mechanism actuated from the maincam drum, and which need not be described. The latch ring is modifiedfrom conventional form to carry the auxiliary yarn feeding finger whichis located approximately 35 to the left of the front of the machineabove the center cam 92 of the auxiliartl series. The latch ring 260 isprovided with a slot at 264, which is bridged by a carrying bracket 266.This carrying bracket is provided with abutment screws 268 and 210 andpivotally carries at 212 the auxiliary yarn feeding finger 214. Thisfinger 214 is provided with a yarn feeding extension 216 and a gapclosing extension 282. It is also provided with a tail 284, which isengaged by a coil spring 286 to urge the finger 214 normally toward itsinactive position. The yarn feeding extension 216 is provided with ayarn eye 218 through which the yarn is fed from a guiding eye 280 in thebracket 266. When the yarn finger 214 is in its counter-clockwiseposition, as indie cated in Figure 1'1, the yarn will be fed from thebottom of the slot in the latch ring to the needles. When it is in itsclockwise position as shown in Figure 16, the slot in the latch ringthrough which it lmoves will be closed by the extension 282 to afford aprotection against bent needle latches. When the yarn linger is infeeding position, the extension 216 similarly closes the slot for thesame purpose.

The auxiliary yarn finger is controlled by the action of the pin 288 onthe lever 290, pivoted on the upper bed plate |3|, and connected by alink 292 to a lever 294, which is adapted to be acted upon by suitablecams on the main cam drum 246. A spring 296 urges the lever 294 intoengagement with its actuating cams and serves to hold the pin 288 in aposition free of the tail 284 of the yarn finger so that the yarn fingerwill be normally inoperative.

The sinkers are acted upon by sinker cams adjacent the main feed whichare similar to the sinker cams disclosed in said Scott patent. At theauxiliary feed, normal inward waves of the sinkers are produced by cams298 and 299. Instead of having a fixed sinker retracting cam. however,there is provided a special selective arrangement, indicated in Figures18 and 19.

The sinker retracting cam, indicated at 300 is carried by a bracket 302and projects within a slot cut into the sinker cam cap in such fashionas to leave a thin wall 304 on the inside of the slot, as indicated inthe sectional view of Figure 19. The bracket 302 is pivoted at 306 tothe sinker cam cap and is normally urged downwardly to bring the cam 300to its lowermost position by a spring 308. The bracket 302 below itspivot 306 is provided with a pin 3 0 engageable by a plate 3|3 securedto a lever 3|2, which is pivoted on the cover plate |33 of the slide |32(Figure 8) and is provided at its free end with steps indicated at 316,adapted to be engaged by an adjustable screw 3|8 carried by the lever|30, which controls theslide |32. A spring 320 urges the lever 3|4 in acounter-clockwise direction as viewed in plan to maintain the steps inengagement with the screw 3|8. By this arrangement. there will becorresponding to successive steps of positioning of the slide |32corresponding positions of the sinker retracting cam 300. In itslowermost position it will engage and retract all sinkers. In anintermediate position it will engage and retract only the long buttsinkers of both types. In itsd uppermost position, it will miss all thesinkers. The plate 3|3 is provided with an elongated edge concentricwith the needle cylinder so that as the sinker cam cap oscillates backand forth in usual fashion during reciprocatory knitting between itsknitting,7 positions defined by the usual bumper screws 322 thecooperation between the plate 343 and the pin Bld will not be disturbed.

All the yarns which feed during reciprocatory `knitting pass throughtakeup sweeps of conventional character and which need not be shownherein, being illustrated with control means, for example, in ScottPatent 1,152,850. Sweeps are provided for the high splice, heel and toe,and sole yarns which knit at the main feed and for the yarn which knitsat the auxiliary feed. These sweeps are released and rendered inactiveat proper times by cams on the main pattern drum.

The operation of the machine to knit the stocking of Figure 2 will bebest understood by referring to Figure 21, which shows in diagrammaticfashion the movements of needle cams and various associated parts Vofthe machine. The operations through the formation of the rib top will bedescribed only briefly, inasmuch as these operations are substantiallyidentical with those involved in said Scott patent. As indicated in saidScott patent, alternate cylinder needles only are generally activeduring the formation of the top of the stocking. In the machine of theScott patent, the needles which are generally inactive during theformation of the top do not have 'i jacks associated with them. In thepresent machine, the differentiation is accomplished by providingdifferent butt lengths on the upper jacks, jacks with long butts beingsuitably actuated by cams, which need not be described herein, to effectthe selective operation of every other needle during the formation ofthe top.

In the beginning of the knitting, all of the needles are free of yarn,and the rst operation effects dividing of the cylinder needles intoactive and inactive groups by the location of cam 88 in its activeposition to lower below the main stitch cams all of the needles whichwere'not raised by the prior action upon jacks of a cam corresponding tocam 366 of said Scott patent. At this time, the various cams and otherparts of the machine occupy the positions indicated in the first zone ofFigure 21. The dial is brought down into active relationship with theneedle cylinder and the dial needles are rendered active under theaction of their cams.

A setting-up course is now knit by the insertion of one, or preferably aplurality, of yarns at the main feed. These yarns are indicated as a andb in Figure 21, and are, for example, the yarns which are later to formthe rib top and heel, respectively.

Immediately after the formation of this setting-up course, the yarn b iswithdrawn and the dial needles rendered inactive by withdrawal of theiroperating cams. As a result, each dial needle and each of the activecylinder needles has in its hook a loop of yarn to be later interknit toprovide a turn in the Welt.

Knitting now proceeds with only the active group of the cylinder needlesin action and with the single yarn a feeding to form the welt. Duringthe formation of this welt, the sinkers are controlled in the fashiondescribed in the Scott patent to provide for proper handling of thefabric and casting off of the loops.

When sufficientw courses have been formed to provide the necessarylength of welt, cam H0 is brought into action and the dial needlesrendered active to begin the knitting of rib fabric. The loops whichwere held on the dial needles are now interknit into the beginning ofthe rib top so that there is formed a folded-over welt of the usualtype.

Rib knitting now continues to form the rib tcp 6, and for severalcourses at the end of the formation'of the rib top, the stitch camv` 66is lowered by the action of a suitable cam `on the main cam drum toprovide a plurality of loose courses to facilitate the transfer of thefabric to the cylinder needles. It, will be noted that the formation ofloose courses in this machine differs from the formation of loosecourses as described in the Scott patent, in which the loose courses areformed by special control of the web holders or sinkers.

Transfer is then effected as described in said Scott patent, the primaryoperations in said transfer involving control of the dial needles, whichcontrol is not described in detail herein. During the transfer action,cam 88 is taken out of action and consequently all of the cylinderneedles are rendered active for knitting. The dial is then raised out ofthe way of subsequent operations. Cam H0 is Withdrawn thereafter beforethe formation of the leg.

The feed of the yarn a is now continued to form the extended top I0.Knitting by all of the needles now takes place at the main feed andplain fabric is accordingly knit.

Up to the completion of the extended top I0, the auxiliary yarn nger hasbeen in its inactive position. This auxiliary yarn finger carries a fineyarn suitable for the formation of the leg and corresponding in finenessand type to the yarn e at the main feed, which will also form the leg.For the purpose of increasing the rapidity of production and also ofminimizing the appearance which might be due to unevenness of a singleyarn, two courses of the leg are knit in every revolution of the needlecylinder, i. e., the leg is knit two feed. To accomplish this result,the change to yarn e takes place at the main feed and the auxiliary yarnfinger is brought into action. All of the cams at the auxiliary feed arerendered active and the sinker-withdrawing cam 300 is moved to itslowermost position so as to operate on all of the sinkers. The stitchadjusting cam 20B will now be in a position, which it may have idlyoccupied heretofore, to engage the proper screw in the lever |92 toadjust the stitch cam gli to the position necessary to balance thestitches formed at the auxiliary feed with those formed at the mainfeed, while both yarns produce the leg. All of the needles now passthrough knitting waves at both the main and auxiliary feeds, andconsequently the leg is produced as described.

Following the formation of the leg, the production of the high splice i4is begun with the simultaneous production of the .instep portion IB ofthe stocking. In the formation of these portions of the stocking, theinstep needles take yarn at the auxiliary feed to knit the instepportion, while the sole needles take yarn at the main feed to knit thehigh splice. The suture needles take yarn at both feeds in the fashionhereafter described. Knitting is now accomplished during reclprocationof the needle cylinder and knitting, therefore, takes place during boththe forward and reverse movements of the needles.

A high splice yarn c is substituted at the main feed for the leg yarn e.The various cams at the auxiliary feed, with the exception of the centercam 92, are partially withdrawn so as to engage only the long butt andsuture needles, but miss the short butt needles. The cam H is located inposition to engage the long butt needles. Cam H2 is moved inwardly toengage only long butt needles. Cam H4 is rendered inactive. Sinkerretracting cam 300 is raised to such extent that it will engage onlylong butt sinkers associated with the instep and suture needles.

During the formation of the portion of the fabric now being considered,and during a forward counter-clockwise rotation of the needle cylinder,the long butt instep needles will pass upwardly over cam H2 and thencebetween cams 16 and 80 and over cams 62 and I I0 to be engaged by cams|00, 92, 94 and |02 to take yarn at the auxiliary feed and drawstitches. When moving in the reverse direction the long butt needleswill be raised by cam H0 so as to pass above cams 62 and 'I6 and abovecam H2 to be engaged by cams 98, 92, 96 and |04 to take yarn and drawstitches. The short butt sole needles in a forward counter-clockwisereciprocation of the needle cylinder will fail to engage the cam H2 andwill, therefore, pass over the cam 68 to be engaged by center cam 62 andstitch cam 66 to take yarn at the main feed and draw stitches. Theneedles will then pass the partially withdrawn cams at the auxiliaryfeed and accordingly fail to take yarn thereat. During a reversereciprocation they will also engage only the cams at the main feed,under the action of which they will again take yarn and form stitches.

The suture needles must take yarn at both feeds in order to provide thesuture between the high splice and instep. Accordingly, unlike the longbutt needles, the suture needles will miss the cam H2.

During a forward counter-clockwise reciprocation the suture needleleading the short butt series will rise over cam 68 and will engage thepicker 86 to be picked up thereby. It will thus fail to knit yarn at themain feed. However, it will be engaged by cam 100 and be depressedthereby to pass through the knitting wave at the auxiliary feed with thelong butt needles. The suture needles trailing the short butt serieswill pass below the picker 86 and hence will take yarn at the main feedpassing with the short butt needles through the knitting wave thereat.After rising over cam 'l2 it will miss cam H0, but unlike the short buttneedles will rise over cam 96 to thereafter engage cams 92, 94 and |02to take yarn at the auxiliary feed to form stitches thereat, as well asat the main feed.

During a reverse clockwise reciprocation a knits twice at the instepfeed and once at the sole feed.

During the formation of this portion of the fabric, it is not desirableto have imparted to the sinkers associated with the sole needles asecond wave at the auxiliary feed and consequently the cam 300 ispartially raised as above described, so that no such wave will beproduced in the short butt sinkers. Betterfabric control is thusobtained. It is satisfactory, however, to have the long butt sinkersmove in an additional wave at the main feed, this action being, ofcourse, necessary in the case of the sinkers associated with the sutureneedles.

During the formation of this portion of the fabric, the cam 200 willhave been moved to a position to adjust the stitch cams at the auxiliaryfeed to produce stitches through the instep (which is knit on one feedonly) corresponding to the stitches formed in the leg by the two feeds,so that a uniform appearance is provided from the leg into the instep.The two stitch cams 94 and 96 are adjusted relatively to each other byadjustment of the screw 2M. In order to secure a proper stitch conditionthrough the high splice, a relative adjustment of the stitch cams 68 and66 is effected through adjustment of cam 66 by the screw 256. The properstitches are caused to be produced by fixed cam 68 by verticaladjustment of the needle cylinder by control of the means illustrated insaid Scott patent in the fashion described above.

Following completion of the high splice, recip rocation is continued forthe formation of the heel having the narrowed and widened portions I8and 2U. The instep yarn continues to extend from its actively positionedfinger to the suture needle which last received it and a suitable takeupsweep of conventional character is active to control it. The cams at theauxiliary feed are now completely withdrawn to such extent as towithdraw center cam 92 with them. Withdrawal of cam 82 is necessarysince it will otherwise lower needles which are picked down and therebymay cause them to seize the instep yarn which is idling back and forth.

Cam H2 is now moved in to such extent as to engage not only long buttneedles, but the suture needles as well, which latter must form, ineffect, part of the long butt series. One of them holds the instep yarn.Sinker retracting cam 308 is moved to its uppermost position so as tomiss all of the sinkers, and yarn b, the heel yarn, is substituted atthe main feed for the high splice yarn.

Upon the first forward reciprocation for heel knitting, the sutureneedles will be raised to inactive position by the cam l l 2 to join thealready raised long butt needles, and upon each reciprocation a shortbutt needle will be picked up in the usual fashion to produce narrowingby the action of pickers 84 and 86.

At the completion of the narrowing operation, the lowering picker 82 ispermitted to drop to an active level and cam H2 is withdrawn.Accordingly, widening takes place in conventional fashion, two needlesbeing lowered and one being raised on each reciprocation.

The formation of the split foot now proceeds with the restoration of thevarious cams to the positions they occupied in the formation of the highsplice, and the movements of the various needles and sinkers in theformation of the split foot are the same as they were in the formationof the high splice. Since, however, a different yarn d may be used inthe split foot as compared with the yarn used for the formation of thehigh splice, the cam 20G may be adjusted to a third position to provideproper balance of the stitches in the instep portion 24 to cause them tocorrespond to the stitches formed in the upper instep portion I6.

At the end of the formation of the split foot, rotary knitting isresumed to provide knitting by all of the needles at the main feed toproduce the ring toe 25, Accordingly, the cams at the auxiliary feed arewithdrawn. Cams Ill) and H2 are moved out and cam H4` is moved in toinsure the passage of all the needles through the cams at the main feed.The auxiliary yarn finger is now removed from action and its yarnclamped and cut by usual clamping and cutting means located above thedial cap. Rotary knitting then takes place in conventional fashion atthe main feed only.

Following the completion of the ring toe, reciprocatory knitting is thenresumed with narrowing to form the toe portion 28. The cam Il2 is nowmoved in, but only to a sufcient extent to engage the long butt needleswith the result that the suture needles now operate along with the shortbutt needles, though, of course, they are picked up to inactive positionalmost immediately. Following the completion of the narrowing operation,widening is effected in the conventional fashion, as above described.Rotary knitting is then resumed to form the loopers rounds, a loopersloose coursebeing made by effecting depression of .the stitch cam 66during one revolution of the cylinder. Cam H4 is introduced to bringdown any needles which have been lowered by picker 82. At the completionof the loopers rounds the yarn b, which has formed the ring toe, toe andloopers rounds, is withdrawn and clamped and cut so that the loops arepressed off the needles and the stocking freed. The needles` are thusleft without yarn for the beginning of the formation of the nextstocking.

While it need not be described in detail, it will be evident that duringthe formation of the leg 'to knit a leg portion of the stocking byrotary knitting while` feeding to the needles yarns from both feeds, andthereafter knitting above the heel of the stocking a split portion ofthe stocking by reciprocatory knitting, one of the split portions beingformed from yarn at one feed and the other from yarn at the other feed.

2. The method of knitting a stocking on a two feed,r circular knittingmachine comprising knitting a rib top from yarn at one of said feeds,automatically bringing into action the other feed to knit a leg portionof the stocking by rotary knitting while feeding to the needles yarnsfrom both feeds, and thereafter knitting a split iportion of thestocking by reciprocatory knitting, one of the split portions beingformed at one feed from one of the yarns which knit the leg,

and the other being formed from yarn at the other feed.

3. The method of knitting a stocking on a two feed, circular knittingmachine comprising knitting a rib top from yarn at one of said feeds,automatically bringing into action the other feed to knit a leg portionof the stocking by rotary knitting while feeding to the needles yarnsfrom both feeds, and thereafter knitting above the heel of the stockinga split portion of the stocking by reciprocatory knitting, one of thesplit portions being formed at one feed from one of the yarns which knitthe leg, and the other being formed from yarn at the other feed.

4. The method of knitting a stocking on a two feed, circular knittingmachine comprising kniting a rib top from yarn at one of said feeds,automatically bringing into action the other feed to knit a leg portionof the stocking by rotary knitting while feeding to the needles yarnsfrom both feeds, and thereafter knitting a split portion of the stockingby reciprocatory knitting, an instep split DOrtion being formed fromyarn at the feed which was inactive during the knitting of the rib top,and the other split portion being formed from yarn at the other feed.

5. The method of knitting a stocking on a two feed, circular knittingmachine comprising knitting a rib top from yarn at one of said feeds,automatically bringing into action the other feed to knit a leg portionof the stocking by rotary knitting while feeding to the needles yarnsfrom both feeds, and thereafter knitting a split portion of the'stocking by reciprocatory knitting, an instep split portion being formedfrom yarn which was used in the knitting of the leg at the feed whichwas inactive during the knitting of the rib top, and the other splitportion being formed from yarn at the other feed.

6. In a circular knitting machine having a circular lseries of instepand sole needles and main and auxiliary feeds for split knitting,sinkersarranged to cooperate with needles at both feeds in the formationof stitches, the sinkers associated with instep needles having longbutts and the sinkers associated with sole needles having short butts,sinker actuating cams at each feed, and means for controlling the sinkeractuating cam at one of the feeds to cause it to operate selectively allof the sinkers, those having long butts only, or none of them.

7. A two feed, circular knitting `machine comprising means for feedingyarn to cylinder and `dial needles at one of said feeds to provide a ribtop of a stocking, means for automatically feeding thereafter to needlesyarns at both feeds during rotary knitting to produce a leg portion of astocking, and means for feeding yarns at both feeds to the needlesduring reciprocatory knitting to provide a split portion of thestocking, said means providing for the feed of a yarn at one of thefeeds continuously through both the rotary and reciprocatory knitting. l

8. In a circular knitting machine having a eircular series of instep andsole` needles and main and auxiliary feeds for split knitting, sinl-:ersarranged to cooperate with needles at both feeds in the formation ofstitches, sinker actuating means at each feed, and means for controllingthe sinker actuating means at one of the feeds to cause it to operateselectively all of the sinkers, the sinkers associated with instepneedles only, or none of them.

9. The method of knitting a stocking on a two feed circular knittingmachine comprising knitting a rib top from yarnk at one of said feeds,then knitting plain fabric at said feed at which the rib top was knit,and then automatically bringing into action the other feed to knit a legportion of the stocking by rotary plain knitting while feeding to theneedles yarns from both feeds, so that the single feed plain knittingprovides a transition between the rib knitting and two feed legknitting.

10. A two feed, circular knitting machine cornprising means for feedingyarn to cylinder and dial needles at one of said feeds to provide a ribtop of a stocking, means for automatically feeding thereafter tocylinder needles only yarn at a single feed during rotary knitting, andmeans for automatically feeding thereafter to cylinder needles yarns atboth feeds during rotary knitting to produce a leg portion of astocking, so that the single feed plain knitting provides a transitionbetween the rib and two feed leg knitting.

11. In a knitting machine for knitting a stocking having a rib top, thecombination of a cylinder and a dial, cylinder needles and dial needlesand means operable upon them to cause them to knit a rib top, means forcausing dial needles to transfer the stitches to cylinder needles andfor thereafter knitting plain fabric on cylinder needles in continuationof the rib top and means for changing from rotary to reciprocatoryknitting and for knitting split Work during such reciprocatory knitting,including cams operable at one side of the machine for causing needlesto draw stitches and a cam at each side of said first mentioned cams forraising needles to pass above said cams for causing needles to drawstitches.

12. In a knitting machine for knitting a stocking having a rib top, thecombination of a cylinder and a dial, cylinder needles and dial needlesand means operable upon them to cause them to knit a rib top, means forcausing dial needles to transfer stitches to cylinder needles and forthereafter knitting plain fabric on cylinder needles in continuation ofthe rib top, and means for changing from rotary to reciprocatoryknitting and for knitting split work during such reciprocatory knitting,including cams operable at one side of the machine for causing needlesto draw stitches and a cam at each side of the rst mentioned cams foracting upon needles to cause them to pass said stitch drawing camswithout knitting.

13. In a knitting machine for knitting a; stocking having a rib top, thecombination of a cylinder and a dial, cylinder needles and dial needlesand means operable upon them to cause them to knit a rib top, means forcausing dial needles to transfer stitches to cylinder needles and forthereafter knitting plain fabric on cylinder needles in continuation ofthe rib top, and means for changing from rotary to reciprocatoryknitting and for knitting split work during such reciprocatory knitting,including cams operable atI one side of the machine for causing needlesto draw stitches and means for acting upon needles to cause them to passsaid stitch drawing cams without knitting.

14. In a knitting machine the combination of two yarn feeding stationsand cams at each station for imparting to knitting instrumentalities thenecessary stitch drawing movements, and a cam at either side of-v thecams at one of said stations constructed and arranged to raise needleswhich have knitted at that station so that their butts will pass aboveall cams at the opposite knitting station.

15. In a split-foot knitting machine the combination of knittinginstrumentalities, a main cam set and an auxiliary cam set, cams ateither side of said auxiliary cam set constructed and arranged to guideneedle butts of those needles which have knitted at that station to alevel at which they will pass above all cams at the main knittingstation.

16. The method of knitting a stocking on a two feed, circular knittingmachine which cornprises knitting a rib top at one feed of the machine,knitting a leg from yarns fed at both feeds of the machine, knitting aheel from yarn fed at the feed which knit said rib top, and knittingsimultaneously a sole and an instep, the sole being knit from yarn fedat the feed which knit the rib top and heel, and the instep being knitat the other feed from the same yarn which was used in knitting legcourses at the last mentioned feed. v

17. The method of knitting a stocking on a two feed, circular knittingmachine which comprises knitting a rib top at one feed of the machine,knitting at least one series of courses of a leg from yarn fed at theother feed of the machine, and knitting a split portion at both feeds,the instep part of said split portion being knit from the same yarnwhich was used in knitting said leg courses, the knitting of the leginvolving the knitting of a second series of courses intermediate theaforementioned leg courses from a yarn similar to that last mentioned atthe feed at Which the rib top was knit.

HAROLD E. HOUSEMAN.

